Sewer cleaning



No. 623,585. Pa tented Apr. 25, I899. n. E. WARING, JR.

SEWER CLEANING APPLIANCE.

(Application filed Feb. 15, 1893.) iNo Model.) 2 Sheats-Sheet l.

WITNESSES Patented Apr. 25', I899.

G. E. WARING, IR. SEWER CLEANING APPLIANCE.

- (Application flld Feb/15, 1893.) (No Model.) 2 Shank-Sheet 2.

Fig.8. A Fi .2

WITNESSES. INVENTUR.

i ATENT Fries.

GEORGE EplVARING, JR., OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSET"S.

SEWER-CLEANING APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 623,585, dated April 1899.

Application filed February 15, 1893. Serial No. 462,466. (No model.)

T0 at? whom it may concern: suitable openings at various points in the Be 1t known that I, GEORGE EWARING, J r., course of the sewer adapted for the-introducot the cltyand county of Newport, in the State tion of sewer force-pumps and their appurof Rhode Island, have made a new and usetenances, all as hereinafter set forth. 5 ful Improvement in Sewer-Cleaning Appli- The details of construction are shown in ances, of which the following is a specificathe drawings, in which tion. Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a por- All sewers are more or less liable to obtion ofa sewer and two inspection or cleaning struction and some provision must be made pipes, with a sewer force-pump in'each, as 10 for the removal of such obstructions when applied in producing an agitation of the in they occur. The earliersewers were as a rule cluded column of water for the stirring up of of such a size as to make it necessary that deposits. Fig. 2 shows the pump-cylinder workmen should enter them from time to time and dam. Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the to clean them out. Access to the sewers for pump or dam socket A. Fig. 4is a plan of the 6 '5 I5 this purpose was provided bymeans of mansame. Fig. 5 is a section of the inspectionholes. The manhole as applied to the more hole cover. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same.

modern system of small pipe -sewers is a Fig. 7 is a plan, on an enlarged scale, of the costly survival of the condition which made guide C; and Fig. 8, an elevation, on an enits former use imperative. It is of course of larged scale, showing the details of one of its 20 no Value as a means for longitudinal inspecpoints of support.

tion ofa small pipe-sewer for any distance, The pump or dam socketA is a block, prefand it is only useful as a means by which erably of concrete or' similar material, pertools may be inserted into a sewer. The foratedinahorizontal direction withachantools are attached to and manipulated by secnel corresponding with that of the sewer of 2 5 tional rods or pipes or are carried by ropes which it forms a part. At its top is a vertical drawn through from one manhole to another. opening, preferably of the same diameter as In this manner a certain amount of force is the sewer-channel, from which a channel D,

brought to bear upon an obstruction or deas of vitrified pipe, is carried to the surface posits are so disturbed as to lead to their beof the ground, with a suitably-arranged case o ing washed away by a strong current. The and cover at the topas, for example, the

most certain and effective method of applycase If and cover G.

ing such force at any given distant point in The pump-cylinder E is a tube, preferably a sewer is by means of a column of water of heavy brass, with an external diameter reaching from the point of operation to the corresponding with the vertical opening in 3 5 obstacle and filling this portion of the sewer the top of the block A, through which it passes completely. As the water is incompressible, and on which it is supported by the rim K,

pressure upon the forcing-tool at one end of which serves to hold the tube in its proper the column is transmitted to the point of obrelation to the sewer-channel below. The f struction as effectively as througha solid rod. lower end of the pump-cylinder E is cut to 0 The most complete and effective method of fit the section of the sewer-channel, and when removing deposits from a sewer is by means in place constitutes a dam B. This dam may of a vigorous agitation of water submerging be made independently, if preferred, in any them, followed by a strong flushing-current way that will stop the flow of the sewer.

that will sweep away the material of which 6 isapiston, which preferably fits the pump- 5 5 the deposit was formed. cylinder E as tightly as smooth working will The purpose of my invention, among other allow. If desired, it may be made to fit more things, is to provide a simple and ineXpenloosely in the channel D, producing its effect sive means whereby direct force or pressure of transmitting motion to the water column can be applied to obstructions or an agitat- F by a reciprocating motion in the channel I00 50 ing or rinsing effect to deposits through a in rhythm with the undulation of the water column of water. This I do by providing column. This water column is formed by an accumulation of the flow of the sewer or in case of complete stoppage by filling the sewer between the points of obstruction and operation and so much of the pump-cylinder E or channel D as willallow the proper effect of the piston e.

L is a bushing to be inserted in the upper end of the pump-cylinder E to prevent the unintentional withdrawal of the piston e and to furnish a means for the removal of the pump and dam when desired by a continued raising of the piston-rod. It may be held in place by a screw-thread, as shown, and may be provided with the holes ZZZ for the reception of a tool, by which it may be screwed into or out of position.

G is a guide designed to hold the pumpcylinder E and the piston-rod e concentric with each other and with the channel D and to furnish a certain amount of frictional resistance against the unintentional withdrawal of thepump-cylinder E and dam B. It is made, preferably, with three arms, each somewhat shorter than the radius of the channel D, with their ends 0 c 0 provided with loops of rubber or similar elastic material that will fit the channel D snugly, taking a frictional hold upon its walls. The lower side of each of the ends 0 o c is furnished with a wedgeshaped lug, as shown, for the purpose of centering and securing the bushing L and consequently the pump-cylinder E. It is pro vided with a circular opening S, through which the piston-rod passes.

II is an annular case of cast-iron or similar material designed to continue the channel D to the surface of the ground and to support the cover G. It is provided with pins h h, projecting from its sides, designed to engage in the slots 9 g of the cover G as it is applied and lock it in place. The slots g g in the rim 1 of the cover G consist each of two secondary vertical slots connected by a short horizontal slot, as shown. The object of this particular form of slot is to provide in connection with the pins 7b 71, a means whereby the lifting of the cover G to any considerable extent may be prevented, as also the turning and consequent unlocking thereof resulting from a glancing blow or oblique pressure near its periphery, as from the hoof of a horse. The surface of the cover G may be provided with suitable notches or holes to receive the lifting-tongs, which may also be used to turn the cover horizontally in engaging or disengaging the lockiug device.

The operation of my invention is as follows: For purposes of inspection it is only necessary to unlock and remove the cover G and look down the channel D, as into an ordinary lamp-hole. In case of obstruction the opening immediately below the obstruction is un covered, and a pump and dam E B (of which but a very few will be needed in any one community) are inserted, with the dam on the downstream side of the vertical opening in the pump-socket A and secured in place by the guide 0, the piston e being already in the cylinder. If the obstruction is not water-tight, the dam will cause the flow of the sewer to accumulate and back up to a point beyond the obstruction. If the obstruction is of such a nature as to allow no sewage to pass it, the water column F can be formed by introducing water through the pump-cylinder E, the bushing L and piston e having been first removed. When the water column lies solidly against the obstruction, the piston e and bushing L are replaced, and any desired force is brought to bear upon the obstacle by depressing the piston e. As soon as the obstruction yields, and its yielding will be felt at the piston, the pump and dam are Withdrawn, and the retained water, acting as a strong flushing-stream, carries the obstructing materials on to the outlet. By this means pressure can be brought to bear upon an obstruction from below, giving a backward push to the 0bstructing material and often releasing it from its entanglement whenpressure applied from above might only serve to increase the diffi-' culty and compact the obstruction. In the case of deposit, which does not, however, amount to obstruction, a reciprocating motion of the piston 6 will cause an agitation of the water column F, stirring up the deposit, which will be swept away by the release of the water before it has had time to settle again. If it is desired to give a more positive motion to the water column F, two pumps may be employed, one above and one below the deposit, as shown in Fig. 1, working in opposite directions, but in rhythm. If it is desired to cleanse the sewer by passing a ball through it, the ball can be inserted at any one of the inspection-holes and can be caught and withdrawn at any'other in the course of the sewer by a suitable basket or cage inserted instead of the dam B.

I am aware that oblique inspection-pipes have been used for the purpose of aiding the removal of deposits. Although allowing a considerable agitation of the water by the use of a loose plunger, this device does not and cannot be made conveniently to operate as a force-pump for the removal of obstructions and deposits. The oblique position of the pipes and the difliculty of making a good foundation forthe street-chamber in which they end is found in practice to make them liable to be broken ordistorted bysettlement. The oblique position of the pipes makes it necessary to resort to artificial illumination when it is desired to inspect the flow of the sewers with which they are connected. In order to perform cleaning operations in both directions, it is necessary that two pipes be provided, one directed up, and the other down stream. Their costis great. The abovedescribed disadvantages attending the use of oblique inspection-pipes are obviated by the use of the device of my invention.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a channel for the How of liquid, the pump E, with an extension of one of its sides, constituting the dam B, opening at its other side into the said chan= nel, as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with a covered conduit for the flow of liquids, the socket A and the pump E, the latter fitting the vertical open ing in the said socket, and having one of its sides extended into a 'dam B, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a covered conduit containing flowing liquid, mechanism for the cleansing of the said conduit or the removal ing and holding back the flowing liquid, and

means for imparting motion to the resultant column of water formed above the said opening, substantially as described.

GEO. WARING, JR.

Witnesses: I

GEo. WAY SWINBURNE, J 1 G. EVERETT HILL. 

